Did You Know - the FDA Doesn’t REALLY Review / Keep Shampoos and Conditioners made with Toxic Ingredients from the Market?
by M Wenniger
That is a real shock, isn’t it? Well, read on for more details….
Your Essanté product development team and I have learned a lot about the lack of safety concerns and regulations since we began developing our all natural organic and/or wild crafted products.
The first thing that was a real eye opener was that for the most part, the FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetics and personal care products. So when we thought they’d let us know about toxins and harmful ingredients….they weren’t empowered to do that! Since 1894, this industry has been a self policing organization called the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association – or now known as the Personal Care Products Council. It’s made up of over 600 different product distributors and manufacturers. It’s about like having the fox watch the hen house to ensure ‘voluntary regulation’.
What is even MORE shocking is that there are more safety regulations and far more banned chemicals in places like the EU, Canada, Japan, and other health conscious markets than here in the U.S.A. Makes it feel an awful lot like consumers are guinea pigs.
So, what do you need to be aware of in your own products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, etc.? Make use of resources that help you determine what is safe for your health and that of your family. For example, the following ingredients are just a few of the toxins that can actually make you ill if you use them daily in shampoos and conditioners:
· Sodium Lauryl Sulfate [often referred to as SLS] – This chemical ingredient helps shampoo and soap to lather and foam. It’s used in car washes and garages as a degreasing agent. Acting as a performance enhancer, it helps other ingredients penetrate, allowing potentially toxic ingredients to enter the bloodstream. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), research on SLS has shown links to
o Skin and eye irritation
o Development and reproductive toxicity
o Endocrine disruption
o Ecotoxicological, biochemical or cellular changes
o Neurotoxicity
o Possible mutations and cancer
Visit www.ewg.org to see the list of research studies in their PubMed library. There are some over 15,000 studies as well as lists of health concerns and adverse conditions related to SLS.
Note: SLS goes by a number of names, including: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium laurel sulfate, sodium dodecylsulfate, sulfuric acid, sodium salt sulfuric acid, A12-00356, Akyposal SDS, Aquarex ME, and Aquarex methyl. Check your products for this ingredient.
· Paraben – Used as a preservative, this toxin has been linked to hormone and endocrine system disruption. Used as an antimicrobial ingredient, this chemical is considered a xeno-estrogen (false estrogen) because it interferes with normal hormonal and estrogen behavior. Xeno-estrogens mimic, disrupt and block normal behavior and pathways. For example, parabens can impact fertility, pregnancy, menstruation, and even fat cell activity. Too much estrogen can cause weight gain, fluid retention and depression. Scientists have found paraben nodules in breast cancer tumors.
Note: Check your product labels for these names –
o Propylparaben
o Parahydroxybenzoic acid
o Parahydroxybenzoate
o Methylparaben
o Ethylparaven
o Buylparaben
o Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
o Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
o Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
o Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
· Dioxane – This toxic chemical was one of over 200 carcinogens linked to breast cancer in 2007 in the medical journal, Cancer. This link to cancer was reported as early as 1965, yet it is still found in personal care products today – for both adults and children!
In 1985, the FDA requested a voluntary limit of dioxane in products of 10 parts per million, but that hasn’t happened.
· Diethanolamine (DEA) – This toxic chemical ingredient reacts with nitrite preservatives and contaminants in personal care products to form nitrosodienthanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is a known, potent carcinogen.
DEA seems to block choline, a nutrient vital for healthy brain development. Pregnant women actually need extra choline for fetal development. An associate dean for research at the UNC School of Public Health believed that choline is necessary to help provide proper nutrients for a health baby.
Recently, the FDA reported that around 42% of all cosmetics are contaminated with NDEA – with shampoos having the highest concentrations.
· Monosodium glutamate (MSG) – In your shampoo? Kidding, right? Nope, it’s often hidden and referred to as yeast extract, naiad, glutamic acid, or glutamates. Nontheless, the reactions to it in your shampoo are just like in your food. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, numbness, burning sensations, tingling, facial pressure, nausea, drowsiness and weakness.
· Propylene Glycol – This ingredient is found in engine coolants and antifreeze, airplane deicers, tire sealants, rubber cleaners, polyurethane cushions, paints, enamels, and other products as a solvent or surfactant. It’s a skin irritant that can also cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. It’s more than likely in your shampoo!
So, what can you do about this?
Keep a list of toxic and harmful ingredients in your purse or wallet. Check it against the labels of EVERY product you plan to buy! CHOOSE to be chemical-free whenever possible.
REMEMBER, your skin cannot protect you against these toxins. It is NOT a barrier to entry as many of the medical patches have proven for years. And toxins in your shampoo and conditioner could well be MORE toxic than what is in your food.
We’ve worked hard to create safe, natural organic and/or wild crafted shampoos and conditioners for you! Order your supply now and protect your family against the unseen threats from toxic ingredients.
The Essence of Health Essanté Organics – July 2010